Blue Track & Field Earns Top Marks in Multiple Events at Silfen Invitational

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Wellesley College track & field grabbed several top times as it continued its spring season this weekend, competing on Friday and Saturday at the annual Silfen Invitational, hosted by Connecticut College. 

The Blue took sixth place overall in the team competition, amassing a total of 68 points on the weekend. Tufts University took home the overall team title. 

The Blue's distance runners were in action on Friday night, competing in the Invitational's 'Elite Distance Events' (WATCH NOW: Video of Friday's Events). 

Senior Taylor Bickford opened the weekend strong for the Blue, taking first place in the 3000m Steeplechase with a time of 11:24.13 to finish six seconds ahead of the closest competitor. Sophomore Edie Sharon also took seventh in the steeplechase as the Blue earned a total of 12 points in the event.  

Sophomore Mary Keenan followed with another first place time for Wellesley, as she and and junior Priyanka Fouda finished one-two finish in the 5000 meter run. Keenan ran away from the field, posting a time of 17:29.54 to finish nearly two seconds ahead of her teammate Fouda, who took second at 17:49.33. 

Also competing on Friday night, junior Sharon Ng (Sunnyvale, Calif.) ran to a personal record and fourth place time of 4.49.92 in the 1500 meter run. 

On Saturday, Wellesley's 4x100 meter relay team of senior Kathleen Hanlon, sophomore Isabella Narvaez, senior Kendra Waters and first year Abena Asare earned the Blue ten points with a first place time of 50.40. 

Waters also took a top-ten time in the 200 meter dash, finishing in seventh in 27.36, and the 400 meter run with a third place time of 1:00.66.

In the high jump, Asare grabbed the Blue five points with a fourth place finish and a score of 1.53m. Asare then went on to finish second in the long jump with a score of 5.26m.

Wellesley will be back in action next Saturday at the Aloha Relays, hosted by Bowdoin College.